Feeding device for circular-knitting machines



(NoMddeL) G. D. MAYO. FEEDING DEVICE FOR CIRCULAR KNITTING MAGHINBS.

Patented Nov. 12,1889.

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NITED STATES PATENT FFICE.

GEORGE D. MAYO, OF LYNN, MASSACHUSETTS.

FEEDING DEVICE FOR CIRCULAR-KNITTING MACHINES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 414,865, dated November12, 1889.

Application filed June 18, 1889. Serial No. 314;,106. (N0 model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE D. MAYO, of Lynn, county of Essex, State ofMassachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Feeding Devices forCircular-Knitting Machines, of which the following description, inconnection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, likeletters on the drawings representing like parts.

This invention has for its object toimprove circular-knitting machinesin such manner that an extra thread may be introduced for a part ofanyone or a series of circularcourses,

to thus thicken one sideor part of a circular web where the same is tobe subjected to the greatest Wearas, for instance, at the knee, thebottom of the foot, or other part.

In accordance with my invention I have provided a machine of the classreferred to with an auxiliary thread-guide, which may readily be placedin operative position, and thereafter by or through a cam or controllingdevice be reciprocated vertically to deliver its extra thread'for a partonly of any one or more circular courses.

My invention consists, essentially, in the combination, with aneedle-cylinder, a rotary cam-cylinder, and a seriesof needles, and athread-guide, of avertically-movable auxiliary thread-guide and a ca mor controller to actuate the same and cause it to deliver its thread tobut a portion of the needles during circular knitting for any desirednumber of continuous courses, substantially as will be described.

Figure 1 in elevation represents a sufficient portion of acircular-knitting machine with my improvements added to enable the sameto be understood. Fig. 2 is a top or plan view of the machine shown inFig. 1. Fig. 3 is an elevation of the machine shown in Fig. 1,but withthe cam-cylinder moved ninety degrees and part of the spool for theextra thread added. Fig. 4c is a top or plan view of the machine shownin Fig. 3; and Fig. 5, on a smaller scale, shows the standard a and theparts carried by it removed.

The needle-cylinder A, properly'grooved to receive usual latchedneedles, but one of which is shown, the cam-cylinder B, the skeletoncylinder-ring O, and the main thread-guide D are and may be all as shownin United States I Patents Nos. 363,528 and 319,000, or may be as ofusual construction common to circularknitting machines.

Herein I have shown the cam-cylinder as provided with a socket or holder0., which holds a standard, as a, which supports an auxiliarythread-guide, the latter being composed of a vertical]y-reciprocatingrod I), having an arm or projection, as I), provided with an eye,through which may be led the extra thread ton the bobbin t, supported onthe standard a, said thread being delivered at suitable intervals to theneedles when the machine is being actuated to knit circular courses.

The said rod 1) is shown as having bearings at 2 3 in the standard a,and is surrounded by. a spring, as 4, which normally acts to keep asuitable shoulder or projection at 5 of the said rod down upon thebearing 3; but the lower end of the said rod; in the rotation of thecam-cylinder B, is acted upon by a cam or controller (1, shown asextended more or less about the needle-cylinder below the said rod, sothat the latter will raise the same and place the delivery-arm b abovethe needles, so that when the said rod is lifted the extra threadwillnot be delivered to the needles; but atv all times during the rotationof the cam-cylinder with the auxiliary thread-guide,-

circular course, thus enabling a circular web,

as a stocking, to be thickened at the knee or at the bottom of the foot,or in the calf, or where desired. The rod 12 is slabbed olf at its upperend spirally, as at 8, and co-operating with the said spiral surface isa plate e, preferably made adjustable on the standard a by suitablescrews 6, extended through slots (shown in Figs. 2 and 4) of the saidplate, adjustment of the plate causing the rod 1) to be rotated more orless as it is lifted in its bearings by the cam. The partial rotation ofthe said rod aids in enabling the delivery-eye be delivered at the backof the needles, and will not be knitted in at each stitch, but willextend across the inner side of the tube.

By altering the length of the cam or controller the number of needles inthe circular series of needles which will have the extra threaddelivered to them to be knitted into the fabric for a part of eachcircular course may be varied at will, and, as herein shown, the longerthe said cam the fewer the number of needles which will have the extrathread supplied to them during each circular course, and vice versa.

To use my invention as herein provided for, the standard a will beplaced in the holder a whenever it is desired to insert an extra threadinto a part of the circular web as the latter is being knitted,andpreferably the said standard will be retained-in position by alocking device 12, which 'may be asetscrew, so long as it is desired tothickena part of each course of knitting made in the productionof thecircular Web. \Vhen not to be used, the standard may either be removedor the thread in the delivery-arm b be broken off. The arm I)will'preferably be threaded and'screwed into therod b,so that the saidarm maybe adjustedlongitudinally to enable its delivery-eye to be placedproperly with relation to the needles.

I have shown the cam or controller as fixed to'the skeleton cylinder-rimg 0,-eommon to the said patent but I should consider it within th escope of my invention, should the said cam or controller'be applied toany other part of a circular-knitting machine outside of and topartially surround the needle-cylinder in position to act for a part ofthe-time during the knitting of a circular course orcourses, to apply anextra thread to but a portion of the circular series of needles in asuccession of coursesto thusthicken one side of a circular web.

The eam-cylinder in practice may and will contain usual cams and meansfor reciprocating the needles.

I am aware that it is not novel to introduce an extra thread into partsof a knitted fabder,the cam-cylinder, a series of needles, and

a thread-guide, of the auxiliary thread-guide composed of thevertically-movable rod b, its

arm I), and a guide for the said rod, and a cam or controller (I,located outside of and partially encircling the needle-cylinder, toactuate thesaidauxiliary thread-guide and enableit to deliver its threadto but a portion of the needles during circular knitting for any desirednumber of continuous courses, 'substantially as described.

2. The needle-cylinder, the surrounding skeleton ring, the cam-cylinder,a series of needlesgand a main thread-guide, combined with an auxiliarythread-guide, and a cam or controller attached to the said skeleton ring'to actuate the said auxiliary thread-guide and cause it to deliver itsthread to but aportion of "the needles during circular knitting for anydesired number of continuous courses, substantially as described.

The combinationrwith the needle-cylinder,-a eam-cylindena series ofneedles, a main thread-guide, and a cam or controller partiallysurrounding the needle-cylinder, as cl, and meansto support it, of thestandard a, the vertically reciprocating rod'b, having a delivery-arm b,to deliver an extra thread, and means to oscillate the said arm duringits vertical reciprocationsto enable it to at times present the threadcarried by it in front of the seriesof needles andat other times back ofthe series of needles, as and for the purposes set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my 11am 0 to this specification inthe presence of two subscribing witnesses.

GEORGE D. MAYO.

Witnesses:

Geo. W. GREGORY, B. DEVVAR.

